# An Investigation of the Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Age-Related Declines in Episodic Memory Representational Specificity

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2024 · $76,528

## Abstract

Project Summary
Long-Term Objectives: The overarching goal of the proposed project is to leverage electrophysiological (EEG)
recordings and computational modeling to identify variations in the episodic memory specificity among young
and older adults. This will help clarify the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying age-related declines in
memory specificity. The applicant’s main career objective is to develop a program of research integrating
behavioral, neuroscientific, and computational modeling techniques to understand age-related memory changes.
Specific Aims: The proposed project aims to (1) identify EEG correlates of variations in episodic memory
specificity within and across non-cognitively impaired young and older adults, (2) leverage computational
modeling at the individual-subject level to identify cognitive processes accounting for these variations, and (3)
link computational model parameters with EEG correlates of memory specificity to deepen our understanding
of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying age-related declines and individual variations in the represen-
tational quality of episodic memory. To complete the proposed project, the applicant will receive extensive
mentored training in scalp EEG analyses and computational modeling.
Method: We will collect scalp EEG recordings across multiple experimental sessions as non-cognitively im-
paired young and older adult participants completely mnemonic similarity recognition tasks. Using machine
learning classifiers, we will reduce the highly-dimensional neural data into single predictor variables that we
will relate to participants’ recognition performance to identify EEG correlates of variations in memory specificity
within and across individuals. We will fit a computational model of memory at the individual-subject level to
identify cognitive processes underlying variations in recognition performance and associated mnemonic rep-
resentations. Linking the EEG correlates with our computational model parameters will enable us to identify
neurocognitive processes of age-related declines and individual variations in episodic memory specificity.
Significance: The outcomes of this project will provide novel insights into neurocognitive mechanisms that
underlie age-related declines and individual variations in the quality of episodic memories. This can pave
the way for future applications seeking non-invasive methods to identify individuals at risk for progressing to
neurocognitive disease states and in targeting interventions to combat or prevent memory loss.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10903167
- **Project number:** 1F32AG087646-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Nathaniel Robert Greene
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $76,528
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10903167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10903167, An Investigation of the Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Age-Related Declines in Episodic Memory Representational Specificity (1F32AG087646-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10903167. Licensed CC0.

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